The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-02
Tho Outrage ON French Citizens Still
Unrcdressod.

It looks as II the North German Gazette and
Some other superservlceable Berlin news
papers. In justifying the shooting Of French
citizens at Raon-sur-Plaine, had gone of at
half cock. The exoulpatory report made
by the Alsace-Lorraine authorities can
be reconciled neither with the sworn
the locality and other undisputod features Of
the incident The futility Of the attempt
to defend the murder Of inoffensive
eportsmen, or to evade responsible
fly, seems already recognized by the
German Government which, according
to the latest professions of its Ambassador at
Paris, intended from the first to grant a
I pecuniary indemnity to the widow OF the
slaughtered gamekeeper. BRIaNoN, whether
no had, or had mot been trespassing on
German soil.
We doubt whether the French people will
be very much impressed by this affectation
; Of magnanimity. II BRIaNoN was justly
shot, Germany owes nothing to France,
which rs able and willing to care for the fam
files Of it's unfortunate cttizens. II he was
shot unjustly, due atonement for the murder
has got to be made In more than one way
by the German Government, unless 1t pro-
sumes to hold itself above the patent OBJ
legations of international law. KAUFMANN,
the, murderer, must receive adequate pun
Bhment. and the widow of bis victim must
obtain by way Of indemnity, not such q sum
MS Germany may oondescend to designate.
But such an amount as either shall be az
ceptable to France, or shall have been
awarded bya third power friendly to both
parties.
This may prove one Of those cases where
Il is the part OF wisdom to heed the Scriptu-
ral Injunction: agree with thine adver-
sary quickly. while thou art In the way with
him." II within twenty-four or even forty
eight hours after the shooting the German
Government had arrested KAUFMAN on
the charge Of murder, and invited
: Er4noeaz to name the compensation
90 be paid TO BRIaN0Ns widow. the Raon-
sur-rlaiiie incident would now be over. The
last thing which q Cabinet SO weak as NJ.
RoUvIER's could desire was serious trouble
on the frontier, and there seems no doubt OF
the sincerity OF Kaiser WILLIAMS wish for
peace, whatever may be thought OF Bis
MARoK's secret inclinations. AS 1t is. tho
delay coupled with the far-fetched and
untenable pretence Of exculpation made by
the German local authorities, has wrought
the French people to pitch OF evaporation
which may not much longer be easily
controlled. It has provoked, moreover,
counter Investigations on the French
side which threaten to expose German Of
ficiRls and their masters to the gravest
imDutations. We might indeed discredlt
the discoveries said to have been made
by reporter o; the Laa.srae on the score
of that papers rabid and-German senti-
meuts. But we cannot thus lightly
brush aside the assertions Of q corre-
spondent specially deputed to elicit the
Facts upon the spot by paper 30 cautious
and trustworthy as the Jeu,glgl DIS Ds6ats,
According to the DebaiS the Assassination of
the Frenchmen was the premeditated out
come OF . conspiracy formed daysin advance.
It ID obvious that u primo facie case can
be made out for tho charge Of tho Dtbdts.
tho German Government cannot ahsolye